Construction costs depend on variables : Friday, April 2, 2004

Friday, April 2, 2004

Construction costs depend on variables

From staff reports

The final cost of a new building depends on choices made along the way about the church's structure, systems and finishes, according to the church building planning team of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Be wary of:

Basements: Because codes discourage the use of basements for assembly, basements have become fairly expensive spaces.

Clear span: The larger the clear span of your building, the more expensive it will be.

Roof slopes: Higher roof slopes carry less snow and catch more wind. They're more dramatic, but offer more space to heat and cool, require more money to finish, and are more trouble to transport.

Tilted floors: Sloped floors are tough to finish, less adaptable for multiple use, and difficult to add onto in the future.

Building materials: Some construction materials are better suited for volunteer labor.

Shipped goods: Building material that's available locally is usually cheaper than what must be transported over distance.

Shape of sanctuary: Rectangular plans offer more seating efficiency for up to 500 people. With more than 500, a fan shaped sanctuary works better.

Installation: The more difficult a product is to install, the more expensive its installation and subsequent repairs or replacement will be.

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